Man Pleads Not Guilty To Setting Girlfriend Aflame

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Santa Ana man accused of dousing his girlfriend in gasoline and setting her aflame as he drove along Interstate 15 near Corona pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges.

Constantino Monterrosas Gamez, 39, could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of the attempted murder count as well as false imprisonment, making criminal threats and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Molloy appointed him a public defender and set a felony settlement conference in the case for August 8.

Gamez remains behind bars with a bail set at $1 million at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.